What is the wave of inheritances?

This is the name for the currently historic transfer of wealth from the post-war generation to its heirs. For most families the inherited house or flat is the largest item — and therefore the central decision in an inheritance.

Is the property really the largest part of the inheritance?

For most households their own property is the largest component of wealth — it weighs more than monetary and savings assets (Deutsche Bundesbank). Where a house belongs to the estate, it therefore almost always determines the value of the inheritance.

Why does an inherited house so often lead to dispute?

Because its value is rarely known. Without a current, neutral valuation each heir estimates differently — and a question of fact becomes a conflict. A comprehensible market value creates the shared basis on which fair solutions can be found.

Knowledge · Guide · German law applies

The wave of inheritances and the inherited house.

More wealth is being passed on in Germany right now than ever before — and at the heart of it, for many families, stands a house. This article sets out the larger context before turning to your own situation.

As at: June 2026 · General orientation, not legal or tax advice in the individual case (§ 3 RDG, § 4 StBerG)

First, the answer

The answer first. The post-war generation is passing on its wealth — experts speak of a “wave of inheritances”. For most families the largest item is not the money in the account but the property: the family home, the freehold flat, the plot of land. This makes the inherited property, for many, the most important and at the same time the most difficult decision of an inheritance — not because it is urgent, but because it is rarely prepared for.

Why the house is usually the largest item

For most households, their own property is the largest component of wealth — real estate and other tangible assets weigh more heavily than the financial assets almost everyone holds (Deutsche Bundesbank, household finance survey). It follows that in an inheritance: where a house belongs to the estate, it usually determines the value of the inheritance. That has consequences as soon as several people inherit together — for a house cannot be divided like a sum of money. This is precisely where the community of heirs arises, in which decisions can only be made jointly.

The gap: a value almost no one knows

Unlike a bank balance, a property has no value that can simply be read off. Many owners have never had their house valued; the heirs take it on with a rough idea, often years or decades old. This valuation gap is the quiet trigger of many conflicts: one thinks the value high, another low, and without a neutral basis a question of fact turns into a dispute. A current, comprehensible market value (Section 2311 BGB) takes the edge off the matter — it is the basis for a fair pay-out just as much as for a sale.

What follows for heirs

The good news: the wave of inheritances brings no compulsion to hurry. Whoever orders the value soberly and puts the conversation between the heirs before the decision about the house avoids the two most common mistakes — the rushed sale below value and the deadlocked dispute. How a community of heirs dissolves a house in an orderly way is set out under A community of heirs and the property; how much can be settled in advance during one’s lifetime, under Gifting or bequeathing. And how it all takes shape locally is shown in our region overview.

wave of inheritances: The demographically driven, historically large transfer of wealth from the post-war generation to its heirs — much of it in the form of real estate.
valuation gap: The gap between the assumed and the actual value of an inherited property, arising when the value has not been determined for a long time — a frequent source of conflict among heirs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the wave of inheritances?: This is the name for the currently historic transfer of wealth from the post-war generation to its heirs. For most families the inherited house or flat is the largest item — and therefore the central decision in an inheritance.
Is the property really the largest part of the inheritance?: For most households their own property is the largest component of wealth — it weighs more than monetary and savings assets (Deutsche Bundesbank). Where a house belongs to the estate, it therefore almost always determines the value of the inheritance.
Why does an inherited house so often lead to dispute?: Because its value is rarely known. Without a current, neutral valuation each heir estimates differently — and a question of fact becomes a conflict. A comprehensible market value creates the shared basis on which fair solutions can be found.

Read on

A community of heirs and the property

When several inherit a house — ordered, not in dispute.

Gifting or bequeathing

Much can be settled calmly in advance during one’s lifetime.

In your region

How handover and inheritance take shape locally.

This article provides orientation and does not replace legal or tax advice. The value is determined by an expert appraiser, the law clarified by a lawyer, taxes by a tax adviser.

Your next step.

You do not have to decide anything today. If you like, we will first simply order your situation — anonymously and without obligation.

Where do you stand?Arrange a callback

Free initial consultation · without obligation · reply within two business days